HF 536 (LSB 2354HH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 536

BY  GEARHART

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to firearm, hunting, and wildlife instruction provided to students enrolled in grades six through eight in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 80.5, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  13.  a.  The department shall cooperate with the director of the department of natural resources in the development of the model program described in section 455A.4, subsection 1, paragraph “k”.
   b.  The department shall deem a student’s completion of the model program described in section 455A.4, subsection 1, paragraph “k”, as a successful completion of approved firearm safety training under section 724.9.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0t.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to hunting, wildlife, and firearms curricula or extracurricular activities in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to hunting, wildlife, and firearms curricula or extracurricular activities in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  Hunting, wildlife, and firearms —— curricula and extracurricular activities.
   1.  In grades six through eight, the board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall offer or make available as part of the physical education, health, or science instruction, or as an extracurricular activity, the model program developed by the department of natural resources and the department of public safety pursuant to section 455A.4, subsection 1, paragraph “k”. The practical components of such curricula or extracurricular activity, including hands-on firearm safety demonstrations, must be conducted under controlled conditions with appropriate supervision and safety protocols.
   2.  The board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall not allow a student to participate in the curricula or extracurricular activity described in subsection 1 unless the student’s parent or guardian submits to the principal of the student’s school written consent for the student to participate.
   3.  If the board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school offer or make available the model program as part of the physical education, health, or science curricula, the school district or accredited nonpublic school shall not require a student to participate in such curricula if the student’s parent or guardian submits to the principal of the student’s school a written request for the student to be excused from participation.
   4.  A school employee or contractor providing instruction related to the model program developed by the department of natural resources and the department of public safety pursuant to section 455A.4, subsection 1, paragraph “k”, must satisfy all of the following requirements:
   a.  The employee or contractor must have successfully completed a hunter education course approved by the natural resources commission and been issued a certificate of completion under section 483A.27.
   b.  The employee or contractor must have successfully completed approved firearm safety training under section 724.9.
   5.  The board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school may collaborate with local conservation organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community groups to enhance such curricula or extracurricular activities provided pursuant to this section.
   6.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall provide information to the department of natural resources related to the number of students who complete the curricula or extracurricular activity described in subsection 1.
    Sec. 5.  Section 455A.4, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  k.  (1)  Develop, in consultation with the department of public safety, and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, an age-appropriate model program for students enrolled in grades six through eight that includes curricula related to all of the following:
   (a)  Firearm safety, handling, and storage.
   (b)  Iowa hunting laws and regulations.
   (c)  Wildlife conservation and ethical hunting practices.
   (d)  Emergency preparedness, outdoor survival skills, and first aid.
   (2)  The director shall issue a certificate of completion of a hunter education course to a student who completes a course that uses the model program described in subparagraph (1).
   (3)  The director shall, in consultation with the department of public safety, maintain a database of students who have obtained a hunter education certificate, or have been deemed by the department of public safety to have successfully completed approved firearm safety training under section 724.9, as a result of completing the model program described in subparagraph (1), to streamline licensing and recordkeeping processes.
   (4)  The director shall, in consultation with the department of public safety, submit an annual report to the general assembly, on or before June 30 each year, that contains information related to the number of students in this state who participate in the model program described in subparagraph (1), the number of students who have obtained a hunter education certificate, or have been deemed by the department of public safety to have successfully completed approved firearm safety training under section 724.9, as a result of completing the model program described in subparagraph (1), and feedback from educators, students, and parents.
   (5)  The director shall review the model program described in subparagraph (1) every five years and revise the model program as necessary to ensure continued effectiveness, safety, and compliance with state and federal standards.
    Sec. 6.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
    Sec. 7.  APPLICABILITY.  The following apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026:
   1.  The section of this Act enacting section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph “0t”.
   2.  The section of this Act enacting section 256F.4, subsection 2, paragraph “r”.
   3.  The section of this Act enacting section 280.36.

EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to firearm, hunting, and wildlife instruction provided to students enrolled in grades six through eight in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.
   The bill requires the director of the department of natural resources to develop, in consultation with the department of public safety, and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, an age-appropriate model program for students enrolled in grades six through eight that includes instruction related to firearm safety, handling, and storage; Iowa hunting laws and regulations; wildlife conservation and ethical hunting practices; and emergency preparedness, outdoor survival skills, and first aid. The director of the department of natural resources is also required to issue a certificate of completion of a hunter education course to a student who completes a course that uses the model program. The bill establishes annual reporting requirements and review requirements related to the model program.
   The bill requires the department of public safety to cooperate with the director of the department of natural resources in the development of the model program. The bill also requires the department of public safety to deem a student’s completion of the model program as a successful completion of approved firearm safety.
   The bill requires the director of the department of natural resources, in consultation with the department of public safety, to maintain a database of students who have obtained a hunter education certificate, or have been deemed by the department of public safety to have successfully completed approved firearm safety training, as a result of completing the model program.
   The bill provides that, in grades six through eight, school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools are required to offer or make available as part of the physical education, health, or science instruction, or as an extracurricular activity, the model program. The practical components of such curricula or extracurricular activity, including hands-on firearm safety demonstrations, must be conducted under controlled conditions with appropriate supervision and safety protocols. The bill provides that a school shall not allow a student to participate in the curricula or extracurricular activity unless the student’s parent or guardian submits to the principal of the student’s school written consent for the student to participate. Additionally, the bill provides that if the school offers or makes available the model program as part of the physical education, health, or science curricula, the school shall not require a student to participate in such curricula if the student’s parent or guardian submits to the principal of the student’s school a written request for the student to be excused from participation. These provisions apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.
   The bill provides that a school employee or contractor providing instruction related to the model program must have successfully completed a hunter education course and been issued a certificate of completion and must have successfully completed approved firearm safety training. This provision applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.
   The bill requires schools to provide information to the department of natural resources related to the number of students who complete the curricula or extracurricular activity. This provision applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.